A 151-run opening partnership between Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks paved the way for the Central Gauteng Lions’ 132-run win over Western Province in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The Proteas duo both hit half-centuries to help their side amass 213-2, before rookie spinner Nqaba Peter claimed four wickets to blow away the hosts for just 81.
Another South Africa international, Lutho Sipamla, was also key with his three wickets, rounding off a fine evening for the visitors, who took control of second spot on the T20 Challenge log.
However, the game was set up by the Rickelton-Hendricks stand, which came inside 14 overs.
The former thumped four sixes and five fours in a 46-ball 73, while the latter was even more rapid on his way to 90 off 49 balls, crunching six sixes and five fours at Newlands where the home side would have undoubtedly been ruing their decision to bowl first.
After the stand was finally broken by George Linde, the most respectable of the bowlers (1-34), Rassie van der Dussen (29*) and Delano Potgieter (14*) ensured there was a flourishing end to set 214.
WP were never in the game after slipping to 9-2 and then 20-3 thanks to Sipamla, before Nqaba’s leg spin bamboozled the rest of the lineup. The 21-year-old now has seven wickets for just 21 runs from his last two outings.
Kyle Verreynne top-scored for Province on their way to being dismissed emphatically in 14.3 overs.
The day’s other match between the North West Dragons and KZN Inland Tuskers was abandoned in Potchefstroom due to rain without a ball being bowled.
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Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
